TURA: The celebration of World Environment Day was observed in almost every nook and cranny of Garo Hills region on Wednesday.
Hundreds of citizens in towns and villages of the region, school and college children marched in unison to lend a hand in the ‘One Citizen One Tree’ campaign by planting tree saplings in their respective areas.
Although tree-plantation drives remained the highlight of the celebration of World Environment day, special attention was laid on the catchment areas and springshed areas.
To protect the vital source of the Ganol river, awareness as well as tree plantation drives were taken out in its catchment areas such as Daribokgre, Chandigre, Sakalgre and Dura Kantragre areas during World Environment Day.
An extensive tree plantation exercise for Simsang river’s protection was also carried out in the springshed areas of Dabit Songgital in Baghmara, Rongdong in Siju-Dobakkol and the upper stream extending all the way towards Williamnagar.
In West Garo Hills, various NGOs including Bakdil and hundreds of self-help groups together with the district administration led the way in raising awareness on the need to preserve and protect the environment.
The government development blocks in different parts of Garo Hills played a crucial role in mobilising the people in the villages for this special annual event.
In Tura, a special programme to celebrate the day was held at Gandrak Dare, the only waterfall in the heart of Tura, with West Garo Hills deputy Commissioner Ram Singh lauding the initiatives of the different localities of the town which went out of their way to organise a cleaning drive on the eve of the celebrations and join hands in tree plantation.
“Since people of the area take care of the environment and surroundings by themselves, such occasions help people to revitalise the spirit of dedication and responsibility in protecting our environment for the future generations,” said Ram Singh while ruing about the need to take concrete steps to ensure better waste-management system in the district.
The Tura Municipal Board, the lead department, to ensure cleanliness of the town, recently held a meeting with the traders of Tura town where it was decided to discontinue the use of plastic, informed its chairman JD Sangma.
In North Garo Hills district joined the One Citizen One Tree campaign to mark the celebration of World Environment Day.
The event organised by North Garo Hills Soil and Water Conservation Division, Resubelpara, was observed at Wageasi, Kharkutta block on Wednesday.
On the occasion of World Environment Day on Wednesday, the Peace Club of Resubelpara, environmental lovers of North Garo Hills and Royal Enfield Bikers planted saplings at Mendipathar Railway Station. More than 100 saplings were planted and properly set the protection nets.
Citizens, including students from different colleges, participated in the programme. The volunteers contributed all the necessary materials like bamboos, nets, saplings etc., to make it successful.
Meanwhile in South Garo Hills, the residents of coal belts planted more than 3,000 trees in Nongalbibra region for the first time after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a ban on coal mining in the year 2014. The initiative was taken by the Ex MLA of Rongara Siju Constituency Rophul S Marak in collaboration with Nongalbibra Bazar Managing Committee, GSU Nongal Bibra Regional Unit, Mothers Union, NGOs and the Divisional Forest Office (Social Forestry) of Williamnagar Division.
In South West Garo Hills, students and the general public took part in the cleaning drive-cum-plantation programme organised by NGO, AAYF, Betasing Unit on Wednesday for a better environment in the region.
People and leaders from Kharkutta area also took part in the World Environment Day celebration.
